Red River (1948) - 20 Hidden Facts Nobody Knows

Red River (1948) is widely considered one of the greatest Westerns ever made, but the story behind its troubled production rivals anything that happened on screen. From last-minute lawsuits to genuine animosity between its two leads, this Howard Hawks masterpiece nearly didn't make it to theaters at all.

This video explores twenty lesser-known facts about the film that transformed John Wayne from a reliable leading man into a serious dramatic actor and launched Montgomery Clift's Hollywood career. You'll discover why Gary Cooper turned down the role of Tom Dunson, the real reason John Ireland's part was drastically reduced in editing, and the truth behind that famous John Ford quote that may never have actually been spoken.

The production details are equally fascinating. Hawks was hospitalized after a centipede bite during filming. The crew built five dams just to get one river crossing shot. The stampede sequence resulted in seven men injured and dozens of animals hurt. And days before the premiere, Howard Hughes filed a lawsuit that forced editors to work through an entire weekend cutting twenty-eight seconds from the final duel.

You'll also learn about the iconic Red River D belt buckle that Wayne wore in nine subsequent films before it was stolen in 1981 and never recovered, and why Peter Bogdanovich chose this specific film as the literal last picture show in his acclaimed 1971 drama.

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